Vacuum regulator



Dec. 24, 1935. i B WHEELER 2,025,626

VACUUM REGULATOR Filed OC'.. 2, 1934 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 PATENTOFFICE VACUUM REGULATOR Brian Wheeler, Erie, Pa., assigner to William J.Troutman, Butler, Pa.

Application October 2, 1934, Serial No. 746,616

1 Claim.

This invention is a device to regulate the action of an implement whichis operated by suction or the formation of a vacuum, as, for instance,the windshield wiper of an automobile operated by suction from theintake. manifold of the engine. The invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and `consists in certain novel features which willbe hereinafter rst fully described and then more particularly dened inthe appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the regulator connected to the vaporizer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central section through the regulator.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the regulator.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective of the valve.

Figure 7 is a detail partly in elevation and partly in section of thepiston.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the piston.

The vaporizer I may be of any approved construction, its outlet 2 beingconnected with a nipple 3 on one side of the. regulator body 4 on theopposite side of which is a nipple 5 connected with the intake manifoldof the engine. With this arrangement vapor is drawn into the intakemanifold to pass thence into the engine cylinders, ultimately effectingan economy in lubrication and promoting combustion and engineefficiency.

The body 4 has its upper end formed into a cylinder 6 within which isdisposed a cup-like piston 'I having a chamber 8 in its upper endapproximately coextensive with the piston body. The top of the cylinderis litted with a removable cover 9 having a vent opening I0 at itscenter. The lower end portion of the regulator body is elongatedrelative to the upper end portion and has a central bore I I extendingtherethrough from the cylinder to its end and ports I2, I3 establishcommunication between the bore and the nipples 3 and 5 respectively, thenipple 5 being below the nipple 3, as shown. A piston valve I4 isslidably mounted in the bore I I and is held up to and against thepiston 1 by an expansion spring I5 in the lower end of the bore, saidspring resting on a plug I6 upon which is a lock nut I'I accessible fromthe exterior of the body to hold the adjustment of the spring whenturned home against the body. The upper end portion of the piston valvefits closely in the bore II but the lower portion is reduced indiameter, the annular shoulder I8 thus formed being normally just abovethe port I2 and the lower extremity of the valve being in the. .vicinityof the port I3, an annular space or chamber between the lower portion ofthe piston and the wall of the bore being constantly open to said portI3. A by-pass port I 9 in the interior of the body 6 connects the lowerend of the cylinder 6 with the bore of the nipple 3 so that trapping ofuid pressure below the piston will be avoided.

Normally the. spring I5 holds the valve in the position shown in Figure2 and the suction from the intake manifold will be effective to operatethe implement connected with the nipple 3. Should the engine slow downand the suction, consequently, increase so as to overcome the spring I5,the valve will be drawn downwardly to partly or wholly cover the port I2and thereby prevent excessive speed in the implement. When the engineresumes its normal speed, the spring will return the valve to normalposition and the device will thus operate to automatically maintainregular action of the implement.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

A device for the purpose set forth comprising a valve body having a boretherein, nipples on the body one above the other, the lower nipple beingconnected with a source of suction and the upper nipple connected with adriven implement, and both nipples being in communication with the bore,a piston valve slidably mounted in the bore and having a uniformlyreduced portion forming an annular space between the. valve and wall ofsaid bore exposed to the suction to cut off the upper nipple uponincrease of suction, an expansion spring in the bore acting upon thevalve in opposition to the suction, an adjusting plug threaded into saidbore, a lock nut on the plug accessible from the exterior of the body, acylinder on the upper end of the body, a piston in the cylinder incontact with the upper end of the valve, and a by-pass in the bodyconnecting the cylinder with the upper nipple.

BRIAN WHEELER.

